As one of the more common pieces of “free” software installed on prebuilt PCs, McAfee security products are something that many people have encountered, but not everyone wants.
If you want to remove it from your PC, here's how to uninstall McAfee's antivirus software.
Any McAfee installed on your computer
You’re probably here to uninstall the antivirus software. But whether you’re running McAfee Antivirus, McAfee LiveSafe, McAfee Security Scan Plus, or anything else the company has put out, here’s how to uninstall them.
Note: As much as we understand your need to get rid of McAfee, it is essential to have antivirus protection on your PC. Windows Defender is good, but using one of the best free antivirus applications is an excellent second step in protecting your system.
Windows 10 overhauled much of the Windows ecosystem’s traditional application management systems, but if anything, it just makes the process easier. Here’s how to get rid of McAfee products with Windows’ built-in tools.
Step 1: Open the Settings menu by either selecting the Start button in the bottom left-hand corner and then the Cog icon, or searching for "Settings" using the Windows search box and choosing the relevant result.
Step 2: Open the Apps menu and use the Search box to search for McAfee to find everything related to McAfee on your system.
Step 3: Select the McAfee product or app you want to uninstall and then select the Uninstall button. When asked, confirm your choice by selecting Uninstall again.
Step 4: Windows will ask you for permission to continue, as uninstalling an application is an administrative function. Once you confirm, you’ll go through the McAfee uninstaller. Each version is a little different, but follow the removal instructions and it will automatically uninstall the McAfee product from your PC.
This same process can be used to uninstall just about any Windows app.
If the Windows Settings menu doesn’t do the job for you, and there are still some McAfee software elements kicking around your system, you can use the McAfee Consumer Product Removal (MCPR) tool.
Note: At the end of this tool’s operation, it might request a reboot, so it’s important to save all your work before starting.
Step 1: Download the latest version of MCPR from McAfee’s website.
Step 2: Run the tool. It does not require an install.
Step 3: Accept the license agreement and input the CAPTCHA code as requested, selecting Next as necessary.
Step 4: Wait for the uninstall process to work. When completed, if you would like further information about the process, select View logs.
Step 5: If asked to reboot your system, make sure to save everything you need and then restart as you usually would.
If your Windows 11 PC came with McAfee software preinstalled, then removing it is just as simple as it is in Windows 10. Microsoft made some tweaks to the settings so the process is much more clear.
Step 1: To begin, press the Windows Key and I on your keyboard. From there, choose Apps from the sidebar. You'll want to look for Apps & features in the middle of your screen and select that next.
(Some Windows 11 PCs may not have the Apps & features option. You may need to select Installed apps instead.)
Step 2: Review the list of apps, and look for any McAfee products. Select the Three dots icon and choose Uninstall. You'll then want to follow any prompts on your screen, and reboot your PC.
With most other apps, all you need to do to uninstall them is find the app in your Applications folder and drag it to your home screen’s trash icon. But McAfee software makes it a little more complicated. It requires more effort to remove it, but the following method is relatively simple and very effective.
Step 1: You’ll need to be signed in as an administrator to do this. Open your Applications folder and choose the Utilities folder. In the Utilities folder, open up Terminal.
Step 2: Under Terminal, you must create an explicit command to uninstall McAfee. Per Apple’s standards, the command has to be specific. For McAfee version 4.8 or earlier, enter: sudo/Library/McAfee/sma/scripts/uninstall.sh.
For people using McAfee 5.0 or newer, enter: sudo/Library/McAfee/cma/scripts/uninstall.sh.
After creating this command, tap the Enter key.
Step 3: After tapping the *Enter *key, your Mac computer should have already begun expunging McAfee’s files. After the computer finishes removing the files, reboot your Mac. Your computer should now be good to go, and you're ready to install free antivirus for Macs.
Sometimes not even a Terminal command is enough to wipe out all of McAfee’s files. You may continue to see a few pop-ups on your screen even after you uninstall it. If that’s the case, download an uninstaller app like AppCleaner to delete the remaining McAfee files forcibly. There are dozens of free and paid apps that can handle this.
Before you uninstall the McAfee software, check our McAfee Premium+ review - you might change your mind, and prefer to upgrade.
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